(no subject)

[joexnz]

I'm reading Ash by Mary gentle at the moment and it's good once I'd got my head round the modern letters bit. But Ash keeps using 20th century sayings, that possibly should have been edited out. It just isn't very believeable when they are footnoting the armour and then she says step into my office, ground or shit hits the fan. It's lazy writing really.

Comments

[ajax-nz.livejournal.com]

They mention that in the modern letters - the slang used was various blasphemies that aren't interpreted as swearing anymore or other sayings equivalent to the 'brown stuff hits the whirly thing' that don't make sense in modern english.
Bit of a cop out I agree, but read shakespeare - lots of swearing and sayings that just don't convey teh right impression anymore - translating to modern idiom gives the intended impression.

[joexnz.livejournal.com]

given the foot noting would have prefered the orignal slang with modern translation at foot of page. but is minor quibble